Manush Myftiu

Manush Myftiu (16 January 1919 – 20 October 1997) was an Albanian politician during the country's socialist period. He served in a number of positions, most recently as the deputy prime minister.

Early life Myftiu was born in Vlora to a family of Albanian Muslim landowners. In 1939, he graduated from a Classical Lycée in Rome, Italy and while in his hometown, joined a communist cell. From 1940 to 1941 he studied at the Medical Faculty of the University of Turin but did not complete his studies, returning to Vlora where he was obliged to join the Albanian Fascist Youth. While a member of it, he simultaneously remained a member of a communist cell, carrying out clandestine activities against fascism and becoming a member of the Communist Party of Albania (from 1948, the Party of Labour of Albania) after it was founded. During the war he became Commissar of the Fifth Partisan Brigade, commissar of the First Combat Division, and was attached to the Fifth and Eighth Brigades of the First Army Corps.

During the war, he served as a member of the Vlora District Party Committee.

Political career After the war, Myftiu was active in the Communist political structure and became a protégé of Mehmet Shehu. From 1947 to 1949, he served as Chair of the People's Assembly of Albania. He served in this position until 5 March 1951, replaced by Mehmet Shehu.

On 5 March 1951, Myftiu was made a vice-premier and replaced Manol Konomi as the Minister of Justice as part of a series of changes to the cabinet.

On 11 April 1952, it was announced that Myftiu was dismissed as vice-premier. On 12 July 1954, following a reorganization of the Party of Labour of Albania, Myftiu and Josif Pashko were replaced in their party posts by Gogo Nushi and Liri Belishova. On 20 July 1954, Myftiu became vice-premier once again.

He became a candidate member of the Politburo in 1952 and a full member of the Politburo from 1956 to 1990.

From 1956 to 1958, Myftiu served as Minister of Health. From 1958 to 1965, he served as Minister of Education.

From 1966 to 1976, he was First Secretary of the Tirana District Party Committee. From 1976 to 1990, he served as deputy prime minister.

Later life

On 2 July 1994, Myftiu was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of abusing his powers during his time in office, but was released on account of his advanced age.